Evoking all the strength he could muster he pulled on the nightstand and felt throbbing pain in his chest. The bag wavered, tipped, and fell to the floor hitting his arm inflicting more pain, and spilling out stethoscope, tape, gauze, scissors, syringes, and a variety of pharmaceuticals in a kaleidoscope of shapes and colors. From the corner of his eye he watched the nitroglycerin container roll a few inches outside his reach.
The sound of laborious breathing penetrated the room. Adam wasn’t sure if it was his or the President’s. The room seemed to be moving, converging and receding, repeating the pattern. Objects focused from blurred to distinct.
He placed his foot against the bed, leveraging himself, and pushed. Sliding along the carpet he felt a stabbing pain in his left shoulder when
